There are conflicting accounts of what caused the crush, one claimed that a walkway collapsed, leading the crowd to panic.

Ashura is an important holiday in the Islamic calendar, marking the death of Husayn ibn Ali (Imam Hussein), a grandson of Muhammad.

The event around noon on 10 September 2019 drew hundreds of thousands of pilgrims planning to make the run.

[3] Reports varied as to what caused the crush; one claimed that a walkway collapsed, leading the crowd to panic.

Iraqi president Barham Salih and prime minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi offered their condolences for the loss, as well as the United States Ambassador to Iraq, Matthew H.